Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton

 

Family: Asclipidiaceae

Synonym: Asclepias gigantea L., Madorius giganteus (L.) Kuntze 

Vernacular name: Dinesam, Erikku, Vella-erikku, Yerikku

 Habit: Shrub

Habitat: Wastelands

Distribution: Tropical Asia

Flowering and fruiting:  Throughout the year

Key identification features: This shrub, growing up to 4 meters tall, has rounded stems and simple, opposite leaves that are elliptic-ovate to obovate, with a cordate base. The plant features many pale purple, white, or greenish-white flowers in lateral or axillary cymes. The calyx has five broadly ovate lobes, and the corolla is campanulate with short tubes and recurved lobes. The fruit is saccate, ovoid, and up to 6 cm long, containing many brown, broadly ovate seeds with a dull-white coma.

 Uses: It is a medicinal plant